Lillie Harris Ivey

Mother Lillie Harris-Ivey was born May 31, 1945 in Goshen, Alabama to the late Amy Robinson Harris and Romie Harris Jr.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters: Gussie B. (Joe) Boyd and Amy (James) Perry; brothers: Samuel David (Verna Dean) Harris and Robert (Lillie Mae) Cope.
 

Growing up in a Christian household, she accepted Christ as a child at the Town Creek Church of God in Christ in Goshen, Alabama. After the family moved to Union Springs, she joined Union Springs Church of God in Christ. She served faithfully as the church secretary, Youth Sunday School Teacher and church musician. After the church relocated to another city, she joined House of Light Church International. Mother Ivey loved the ministry and served faithfully on the Mother’s Board.
 

On December 21, 1965, she was united in Holy Matrimony to a handsome young man from the Sardis community, Willie Frank Ivey. They shared a special bond and loved each other unconditionally. He called her mama, and she affectionately called him daddy.
 

Mother Ivey was educated in the Pike and Bullock County School Systems. In 1965, she graduated from Carver High School in Union Springs, Alabama. She was a member of the National Honor Society and a cheerleader.  In high school, she made several life long friends whom she loved as her sisters: Rosa Ford Holmes, Thelma Hazzard (deceased), Margaret Bandy and Minnie Hunt Nobles.  
She attended Tuskegee Institute while working as an administrative assistant in Carnegie Hall. She later earned an associate degree in Office Administration from Manpower Training Institute. Mother Ivey is known for her hard work and unwavering dedication. She retired from the Macon County Board of Education after 30 plus years of service. She was presently employed by the school system as an administrative assistant at the Deborah Cannon Wolfe School in Shorter, Alabama until her health failed.
 

On November 7, 2018, Mother Ivey was received into Heaven with honors. 
 

She leaves to cherish her precious memories, a loving husband of 53 years: Willie Frank Ivey; four children: Rebecca (Harold) Ivey, Antoine (Tammy) Ivey, and Willie Charles (Joyce) Patterson all of Union Springs, Alabama and Travious Ivey, of Huntsville, Alabama; four grandchildren: Trent Ivey-Banks, Ivorie (Anthony) Penn, Justin Patterson and Denzel Patterson; three great grandchildren: Zora Penn, Jaeda Peagler and Zariah Patterson; three sisters: Gussie (Ollie) Welch of Tuskegee, Alabama; Sallye (Tommy) Bonner and Dorothy (Earl) Finney both of Cincinnati, Ohio; two brothers: Larry Salter Harris of Cincinnati, Ohio and Willie Oscar Cope of Union Springs, Alabama; sisters-in-laws: Rose (John) Alexander, Carolyn Jackson, Gladys (J.B.) Rivers and  Annie Jackson (deceased) all of Miami, Florida, Betty Willis (deceased) of Birmingham, Alabama; Carolyn Jones of Chicago, Illinois; Gazett (Clifford) Scott of Union Springs, Alabama; brother-in-laws: Henry (Magnolia) Jackson of Clayton, Alabama; Albert Jackson, Onford Jackson, Jimmy Lee Jackson, Jeffo Jackson and Tommy Jackson all of Miami, Florida and Theodis Ivey of Chicago, Illinois; one caring aunt: Olivia Ivey Mariner Chicago, Illinois; one godson: Walter Prichett, Lyons, New York; one god sister: Frankie Wilson, Tuskegee, Alabama; one special maternal cousin: Ella Mae Robinson Johnson, of Union Springs, Alabama; adopted families: Mozell Benton, Bobby and Shirley Streeter, Margaret, Henry Relf, and Gladys Tellis; and a host of beloved nieces, nephews, countless cousins, friends and a huge extended family.

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